10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extraordianry, December 30, 2003
This review is from: Entangled (Paperback)
This book Entangled is the best book I read in 2003. It is very suspensful and it flows like water. Although I don't read a lot of the street stuff this book will appeal to any reader because it is so well written I would reccomend it to teenage girls and young girls because of the Lessons learned. The writer takes you on a journey so hold on and fasten your seat belts. K Elliott is a hot new talent that is just getting started. I look foward to more of her novels
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Caught up in the Dance, March 29, 2004
This review is from: Entangled (Paperback)
Urban Hip Hop is one of my favorite genres. K-Elliott's debut weaves a fast paced tale of drugs, street life and a quest for Diamonds and Pearls. After serving five years for drug conspiracy Jamal vows never again to go back to jail. After being released he realizes gainful employment is a difficult task.
In the meantime he connects with his childhood friend Dawg, who entices Jamal to contact his cocaine connection, Angelo in Florida. On a flight from Charlotte to Florida Jamal and Dawg meet Keisha Ferguson who is traveling with her girlfriend Dream Nelson. Jamal meets Dream and becomes mesmerized not only by her looks but her name.
Dream is a middle school history teacher at Spaugh, and Jamal is a drug dealer. The contrast between the two lives is fascinating especially when Dream attempts to keep Jamal from his life of crime. As well as watching the transformation Dream goes through to help her thuggish man. I enjoyed reading the romance mixed amongst the violence and drug dealing that became a part of both their lives.
When two worlds begin to collide there is no telling where the pieces will fall. Dream got so tangled in Jamal's world she almost lost her own. The undertone references to God were truly a welcomed sight amidst the violence and drugs and mistaken glamour of the streets. One message I walked away with after reading this book was He is always in the midst, working it out. No MATTER WHAT
(Originally read and reviewed Dec 2003)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Foolish, November 16, 2005
This review is from: Entangled (Paperback)
It's been five years and Jamal Stewart was leaving Coleman, Florida heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. Jamal's stretch was spent looking at lavish mansions and luxury cars. The only plan he had was to live his life with an ordinary job. Imagine Jamal, big time hustler accustomed to having everything, now being apart of the working class.
Dream Nelson, a 24 year old opted to follow her parents footsteps as an educator. An only child, from a good neighborhood and a loving two parent household found that she was enticed by that notorious bad boy brand. Her current man was actually on lock serving time for vehicular homicide. Dating straight laced academic types just didn't work for her.
Agent Mark Pratt joined the Drug Enforcement Agency instead of the church like his father and father's father. His goal was to have a career that would impact other people lives. His lifelong dream was to rid the streets of drug dealers, get addicts into treatment and all would be good in the hood. Conflicted by his religion and job, Mark hated that his thoroughness usually targeted black men that lead to their jailing.
As shocking as it is to believe a black man who happens to be an ex-con is unable to find a job. And people wonder why prisons seem to have the revolving door affect. Forced to jump back to his reign on the streets Jamal is just trying to get some major money and then live legitimately. Yeah, that's how it works.
A trip to Miami to boast his freedom and a much needed vacation from visiting jail and teaching children Dream and Jamal lives become ENTANGLED.
Dress him up and take him out on a night with the folks and he comes dressed like an infamous pimp. Take her out and she's on her first official drug run. My days are cold without you, while I'm hurting while I'm with you. And though my heart can't take no more, I keep on running back to you.
At best I'd say the story was choppy. The impending shock factor was ruined by contradicting characters. The potential for a strong story with complex characters is there, but somehow it gets buried. Instead an intensified hood tale flops into HUMDRUM!
Reviewed by: Crystal
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
